Barrett's Store, Mill Village Added To Sites Worth Saving List

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee County Historical Society has added two new places to its Sites Worth Saving List as part of its advocacy campaign to stress the importance of fighting off demolition of these unique locations. The sites added to the list are Barrett's Store in Holly Springs and a portion of the downtown Canton Cotton Mill Village.

“The recession bought us some time and stopped the demolitions,” said Stefanie Joyner, the Society’s executive director. “But it also gave us a false sense of security that our historic buildings were safe.”

The historical society notes that with the return of building and development in Cherokee County, the number of demolitions has increased. It points to two recent demolitions as examples of its position on the issue: the Hickory Flat store at the corner of Ga. 140 and East Cherokee Drive and the Reeves House in downtown Woodstock.

The inaugural Sites Worth Saving List was issued in 2009 with 12 historic sites endangered by "neglect, demolition, or inappropriate development," CCHS notes. Three more sites were added in 2016. Since then, of these properties, four have been saved, three have been demolished and progress had been made toward the preservation of two.

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One of the sites now declared “saved” is Conn’s Creek School. During the past few years Conn’s Creek Church volunteers Billy Coltrane and Carlton Pendley have rehabilitated the historic one-room schoolhouse. They repaired the foundation, replaced the windows (using ones from the historic church) and rebuilt the front porch.

Inclusion on the Sites Worth Saving List places no restrictions on the property. The Historical Society said adding properties to the list is its way of "letting the property owner know how important their site is to Cherokee County."

"Our goal is to do what we can to assist the property owner,” Joyner added. “We can help to arrange a work day to clear debris, write a National Register nomination so the property is eligible for tax credits, find a buyer who is willing to take on a renovation or even move a structure. Many of Cherokee County’s historic structures can be integrated into new development and can become landmarks that set us apart from other metro-Atlanta communities, such as the silos at Crabapple.”

E.M. Barrett Store was built in 1925 and has become a landmark in downtown Holly Springs. It later served as the post office and it is now being leased to Bloom Hair Salon. The city of Holly Springs is constructing a new City Center, and the building is in danger due to the construction project and road widening. The Historical Society has been told that the city is re-evaluating their plans so that demolition can be avoided. There are only a few historic buildings left in Holly Springs, so CCHS said it's hoping that plans can be made to ensure its preservation.

The Cotton Mill Village in downtown Canton was built around 1900 and provided housing for the workers of Mill #1. The village originally included single-family and duplex-style homes for families. The mill owned the houses and maintained them until 1965 when they were offered for sale to mill employees.

With new development happening in downtown Canton and few vacant lots available, the village could be in danger. CCHS added it would like to start a discussion on how to incorporate a portion of the mill village in long-term redevelopment plans. The buildings could be left in place as residential or repurposed as professional offices or retail.

“We’re hoping that the publicity from this campaign will encourage the public to get involved by speaking with their elected officials about the need for preservation in our communities,” Joyner said. “Once these sites are gone, it’s permanent and we’re not getting them back. Saving these landmarks will help differentiate Cherokee County from other metro-Atlanta communities. Hickory Flat is now a good example of this. Hickory Flat Store was a unique building to Cherokee County and provided character and a sense of place. Once the new development is built in its place, you could be Anywhere, USA."

For more information about the sites or to join the Historical Society, please visit rockbarn.org.

Images via Cherokee County Historical Society